FG commits to net-zero carbon emission by 2060

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to net-zero carbon emission by 2060 and climate change actions by 2030.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, made the pledge in Abuja during the Clean and Green Nigeria campaign organised by the Nigeria Women for Gas and Green Initiative. He commended the resolve of the Nigerian women under the aegis of the Nigeria Women for Gas and Green Initiative (NW4GGI), to partner with the government in the implementation of the National Gas Expansion Programme and declared the ministry’s commitment to NW4GGI’s Gas-to-Home project.

Sylva, represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Brenda Ataga, said: “As a government, we are committed to ensuring that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is in every single household in Nigeria. We do not want to see women use firewood in this country anymore.

“We should protect and preserve our forests and protect women from preventable respiratory health. Our women should be seen involved in more meaningful trade.

“This, we cannot do without empowering them to adopt and use gas, which has the potential to make major contribution towards the clean energy drive and accelerate Nigeria’s move towards sustainable energy as in SDG goal 7.

“We have set out a mandate to support organisations to deploy LPG, we have commenced that with access to the CBN intervention funds, which gives small and medium-sized enterprises opportunities to develop micro-businesses through the micro-distribution centres that will be deployed on communities environs so that LPG is closer to homes for utilisation. With this, we would promote clean and affordable energy.”

On her part, the Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, who was represented by the Director-General of the National Great Green Wall Agency, Dr. Bukar Hassan, acknowledged the ministry’s support to the activities of the Nigeria women for Gas and Green Initiative, especially with its tree planting campaign and projects.

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who was the chief host and launcher of the event, promised the support of the Federal Capital Territory in the Autogas Conversion Support programme of the Nigeria Women for Gas and Green Initiative.

Aliyu also appealed that the female auto mechanics be included in the Autogas Conversion training organised by the technical arm of the NW4GGi to fast track the Federal Government’s fuel – to the gas transition programme.

While calling for stiffer penalties for those who fell trees without replacing them, she unveiled the Clean and Green Nigeria campaign logo and gas-to-home projects.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the Nigeria Women for Gas and Green Initiative, Joyce Daser Adams, enjoined all stakeholders to identify and champion the course of action to tackle climate change to leave the earth much better and safer for the next generation. Over 800 women drawn from the 36 states and the FCT attended the event.